Question reference: S6W-01162
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 5 July 2021
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Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds (NMVOC) contributing to PM2.5 (particulate matter) air pollution and such emissions being outside the scope of the industrial emissions directive, what measures it is taking to (a) reduce and (b) regulate particulate matter emissions from the Scotch whisky industry.
Answer
Under the Environment Act 1995 and associated regulations all Scottish local authorities are required to regularly assess air quality in their areas against objectives for several pollutants of concern for human health, including PM2.5 particulate matter. If any objective is found to be exceeded, or at risk of being exceeded, the authority concerned is required to declare an Air Quality Management Area and produce an action plan setting out how it will address the issues identified. These action plans are agreed by both the Scottish Government and SEPA.
To date no local authority has identified an exceedance of the PM2.5 objective relating to the Scotch whisky industry. However this is kept under regular review, with all authorities required to submit an annual air quality progress report to the Scottish Government. Should the situation change in any local authority area, we would expect the necessary action to be taken.